Monday, September 22, 2014

As the government is striving to look for possible ways in order to curb increased
number of accidents occurring in the country, experts have revealed that, improper
vehicle maintenance services contributes to a greater extent the occurrence of
accidents in some parts in the country. Basing the idea with normal research
findings, most accidents are caused by careless driving despite having improved
roads, and this accounts for 80 percent of all fatal accidents in most roads
all over the world. The situation is exacerbated by inexperience, over speeding
while being under the influence of intoxication through alcoholic beverages or
drugs causing plain recklessness. The majority of road crashes are caused by
human error, a transport stakeholder has said. Speaking in an exclusive
interview this week in Dar es Salaam, the Executive Secretary of Tanzania Bus
Owners Association (TABOA) Mustafa Mwalongo said that, there is no thorough
check up done onto vehicles especially buses plying long routes in upcountry
regions. “Lack of vehicles’ inspection is a core issue and traffic police
officers ignores this as part of their duties to ensure that, a bus is safer
for passengers it carries on board, and this should be thoroughly checked as required after and before a driver set out
for long journey”, he said. However, he revealed that, “it is surprising to
note that none of them even cares to monitor vehicles’ movements” he said
adding that, traffic police only inspects head lights, side indicators together
with others driving licenses. According
to him, police officers sometimes tend to be busy on vehicles axels at weigh
bridge points and remain comfortable as in those areas they are more involved
in corruption. Commenting on the
re-introduction of speed governors as a way to reduce numerous accidents,
Mwalongo noted that, these would not work as most drivers do tamper with their
working mechanism into making them rather ineffective. He recalled in 1997 when
the government first introduced a directive which required all vehicles to put
speed governors on their vehicles in a bid to control over speeding, despite of
their certification by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), but were later on discovered
that the devices were defective and could not work as required. Although they
managed to control over speeding from 80 Km to 50 Km per hour, but bus owners
and crook drivers tampered with them and reverted into their normal driving
style that instigates high speeding rates as if they had no such devices put on
their buses, he said. He also noted that, in 2011, the government again issued
a six month ultimatum to drivers and bus owners to ensure that they
re-introduce speed governors an exercise that failed later as no one dared to
follow up. However, Mwalongo has suggested that, once a driver is caught with
an offense associated with their buses, they should not be ending up in paying
fines alone, but severe punishments should be imposed to them including bus
owners as a deterrent for others into committing the same. Interviewed drivers
have complained the habit by traffic police offers saying that, are inciting to
a certain extent when it comes to the issue of ascertaining their driving
licenses which in most cases have been issued to unprofessional drivers whom
they also accuse of attaining such documents through back doors. On the other
hand, drivers have also criticized the indecent behaviors by some traffic
police officers that results into increased corruption a situation which has
made them not to take any action against defaulting drivers once caught with an
offence of breaking traffic rules. Hamidu Shabani, a driver who plies between
Arusha-Moshi-Dar route confidently revealed bad habit by some of his fellow
drivers who are given money by passengers to quickly take them into their
destination. He disclosed that, there are some Arusha based businessmen who are
fond of using their money to bribe drivers and even traffic police on the way
to rush them quickly to their destinations in a bid to collect their business
selling materials and get back on time. He noted that, the trend
psychologically confuses money receivers and abide by their consents
automatically without a fuss, a factor that cause over speeding which
ultimately ends up in fatal accident. In order to end the escalating trend, however,
he has suggested the government should allow 24 hour movements of vehicles
including buses to operate effectively so as to give more time for businessmen to
travel move freely at their own will. Another driver, Joshua Makweta has thrown
a blame to the government for having registered more trucks without having
expanding the infrastructure notably roads.

However, he is on the view of the
fact that, trucks are the main cause of accidents on the way through which they
travel. He has however, suggested that, there should be a control of
overflowing trucks which should also be limited in order to reduce their number,
otherwise they should be allowed to travel during night hours. But his argument was contradicted by an
economist who preferred anonymity saying that, trucks plays a crucial role for
the economic development of any country in the world as they enable the easier
transportation of goods from one place to another other than passengers who
mostly travel for personal interest. Another driver Jumanne Ally suggested
regular check up on vehicles parts such as tires which runs on mostly
dilapidate roads causing their friction on road surfaces that results into
bursting. “Your vehicle might seem fine from where you sit, but knowing what’s
going on with all of its parts will ensure that you have the greatest amount of
safety possible when you are driving”, he asserted. Habibu Selemani (23) a form
six student studying at Kasese High School in Uganda was cornered by this
writer at his home Gongo la Mboto on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city and
noted that, he used to encounter miserable and fatalities when travelling from
Dar to Kampala via Nairobi,Kenya before he connects his journey to Kasese in
western part of Uganda. Describing the trend of drivers’ behaviours on the way
he says that, passengers are at risk position and virtually comes to the help
of the lord God when they reach to their destinations. He says that, he used to
encounter many road accidents and asks himself how they should be controlled.
According to him, a mere fines imposed to defaulters is not enough but rather
they could deserve severe punishment including life imprisonment. An
automobile engineer of the car dealers in the city, Samson Mbwana says that, even
with today’s technology and a greater emphasis on automobile safety, accidents
continue to occur. He says, the causes of vehicle accidents are pretty varied,
but it is important for everyone as members of the motoring public to
understand the most common causes of vehicle accidents so that joint concerted
efforts could be reinforced to prevent them. No product is ever made perfectly,
and vehicles are no different. Automobiles have hundreds of parts, and any of
those defective parts can cause a serious car accident. Many automakers have
had problems with design defects in the past. According to Eng. Mbwana, there
are also a number of non-driver related causes of car accidents such as the physical
condition of the roadway, weather conditions can play a significant role in
causing a car accident. “If a road is
improperly maintained can make a roadway slippery, again affecting driving conditions,
that may make it difficult to maintain traction or to stop in time for a hazard”,
he said adding that, weather can also impair visibility. The mechanical
performance of the vehicle can also play a role in the cause of accidents. A
failure to properly maintain the brake system or tires may impede the ability
to stop a car in advance of a hazard. While advancements are being made every
day to improve the safety and efficiency of automobiles on the road, problems
with the design and functionality of the vehicles themselves sometimes referred
to as product liabilityis
one of the top causes of vehicles accidents
on the road. Manufacturers are required by law to design vehicles that meet a
minimum safety standard and also are required to undergo regular inspection for
a “warrant of fitness” to ensure that the main components of the vehicle are
safe. According to After sales Manager of Scania Tanzania Ltd, Steve Miller
regular, regular motor vehicle check up keeps them look much stronger to
withstand the road conditions depending on their geographical area. He says
improper vehicle check up makes them lose control on the way an aspect that
ends up in a number of collisions that result into fatal accidents. Miller said
in an exclusive interview in his office in Dar es Salaam mid this week that,
his company offers their customers with a one year guarantee maintenance
service of vehicle which is carried out at their State-of-the-art facility
which is located in the city. However, he further said that, after one year has
elapsed, a customer might decide either to continue with their services or might
decide to look for other service givers and this depends on their own wish. Speaking
for Surface and Marine Transport Authority (SUMATRA), the authority’s
Communication Manager David Mziray said that, his organization has set to work
in collaboration with police force in the country to control the menace. He
told the Guardian in telephone interview on Thursday this week that, among the
strategies in place over the control involves vehicles inspection, drunkenness
and drivers’ employment status. The latter is in a bid to reduce stress which
has grown among them at a high level. He said these are among the deliberations
reached upon between them and police as well as bus owners and according to
him, will also involve training for passengers as part of the campaign dubbed
‘Raise up your voice’ that aims to prevent accidents in order to enlighten them
how to raise up their voices wherever they could see the impending danger while
traveling.

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.